Envelope machine



Nov. 16, 1937. A. NOVICK ENVELOPE MACHINE 11 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May18, 1933 j INVENTOR Abraham Ivor/ck. BY

A TTORNE Y5 Nov. 16, 1937. A. NOVICK M 2,098,970

ENVELOPE MACHINE Filed May 18, 1935 ll Sh'eets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Abra/7amNor/ck.

BY O m/W24 A TTORNEYS NOV. 16, 1937. I ov c v 2,098,970'

ENVELOPE MACHINE Filed May 18, 1933 l1 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Abra/mmNor/ck.

A TTORNEYS A. NOVICK ENVELOPE MACHINE Nov. 16, 1937.

Filed May 18, l933 ll Sheets-Sheet 4 K? V 8 8 k m N v4} ink N g. Y. Q .8@WQ NW A m INVENTOR Abraham Nor/ck. BY

A TTORNEYS Nov. 16, 1937. A. NOVICK ENVELOPE MACHINE 11 Sheets-Sheet 5Filed May 18, 1933 INVENTOR Abraham Nov/ck. BY

ATTORNEYS Nov. 16, 1937. 7

A. NOVICK I 2,098,970

ENVELOPE MACHINE Filed May 18, 1933 ll Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR Abra/7amNay/ck.

A TTORNE Y5 Nov. 16, 1937. NOVICK 2,098,970

ENVELOPE MACHINE Filed May 18, 1953 11 Sheets-Sheet 7 IN VEN TORAbra/7am Ivar/ck.

A TTORNEYS Nov. 16, 1937. A. NOVICK ENVELOPE MACHINE Filed May 18, 193311 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR Abra/7am Nor/ck. BY

@uw w A T TORNE Y5 Nov. 16, 1937. 1 NQVICK 2,098,970

ENVELOPE MACHINE Filed May 18, 1933 11 Sheets$heet 9 Abra/7am No Vick.

A TTORNEYS Nov. 16, 1937; A. NOVICK 2,098,970

ENVELOPE MACHINE INVENTOR Abraham Nov/ck.

A TTORNEYS Nov.1 6,1937. A NOVIC K 2,098,970

ENVELOPE MACHINE Filed May 1 8, 1933 ll Sheets-Sheet l1 FfqZd Y f7'422INVENTOR' Abra/2am Nov/ck.

ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 16, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ENVELOPEMACHINE Application May 18, 1933, Serial No. 671,630

11 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in rotary machines forfolding and gumming envelopes, and the principles of my invention havebeen illustrated as applied to the manufacture of so-called open endenvelopes having a central longitudinal seam. In general, it is theobject of my invention to improve existing machines of this type by wayof greatly increasing their output per unit time. In prior machines withwhich I am familiar, the speed of operation has been limited by the factthat the blanks had to be fed to the machine with great accuracy wherebyhigh speed frictional conveying elements which admit of slight errors inregistry of the blanks 1'5 could not be used. 7

More specifically, all object of my invention is therefore to so devisethe rotary folding machine as to enable it to handle blanks fed to it athigh speed as by a frictional conveying ele ment, which blanks arrive atthe rotary drum of the machine slightly out of registry, sayonesix'teenth of an inch either way. In the prior machines the bottomflap of the envelope, because of this slight error in registry, wouldnot receive an accurate fold. In my present machine I have undertaken tosolve this difficulty by scoring the bottom flap previous to its arrivalat the drum and at a point so early in the travel of the blank as toobviate errors in registry. By means of my improved folding mechanism onthe drum, it is then possible to gum and fold this bottom flap alongpreviously made score lines within the limits of error of the frictionalfeeding means to the drum. In my preferred embodiment I accomplish thisby the ccaction of an improved forward gripping device for the partiallycompleted blank and fingers which initiate folding of the flap along thepreviously made score line after which the fold is completed by apresser element 40 pressing the blank against the drum, the forwardgripping device having in the meantime been withdrawn so as to avoid thepresser element.

A further object of the invention is to provide a unitary flap gummingdevice so that gum from different sources may be applied to the bottomand sealing flaps, respectively. Because of the practice of licking thegum on the sealing flap of envelopes, certain types of gum cannot beused on this flap. This consideration, however, does not apply to thebottom flap and hence the desirability of being able to use two types ofgum on the two flaps. In connection with the gumming mechanism it isalso an object of the invention to provide an improved feeler mechanismfor rendering the gummers inoperative when no blank is passing throughthe machine.

Further objects of the invention are to perfect the means for foldingthe bottom flaps and for delivering the envelopes containing the 5freshly gummed sealing flap surface to a suitable conveyor for conveyingthe envelopes through a drier.

Various other and more specific objects of the invention and advantagesthereof will be apl0 parent as the description proceeds.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the detaileddescription which follows, taken with the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure 1 is a view elevation (with portions of the various shaftsbroken away) of a preferred embodiment and showing the rotary foldingdrum and associated mechanism;

Figure 1a is a diagrammatic view showing the driveconnections to thevarious parts;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view showing the feeding and scoringoperations taking place prior to the arrival of the blanks at the drum;

Figure 3 is a developed plan view of the drum and parts associatedtherewith;

Figure 4 is a view taken in a substantially radial section through thedrum and illustrating the mounting of the same and of the partsassociated therewith;

Figure 5 is a detail in radial section showing the construction of thetrailing. grippers;

Figure 6 is an enlarged view of one of the trailing grippers showingfurther constructional details thereof;

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the gummer bar for the bottom flap of theenvelope;

Figure 8 is a view partly in section of the gummer bar unit;

Figure 9 is a bottom plan view of the gummer bar for the seal flap;

Figure 10 is a side view of the gummer bar mechanism showing anarrangement of the parts at the time the seal flap gummer bar is aboutto receive its gum;

Figure 10a is a detail view showing the con-, nection between the end ofa gummer bar and the end of the actuating arm;

Figure 11 is an enlarged view showing the feeler mechanism which acts torender inoperative the gumming mechanism in case there is no blank to begummed, and the grippers in their released position;

Figure 12 is a view of the same parts in a different position;

Figure 13 is a view of the feelers looking from the top;

Figure 14 is a view showing the leading grippers in holding position andthe trailing grippers before actuation;

Figure 15 shows the same parts as Figure 14 but in a more advancedposition with the trailing grippers in holding position;

Figure 16 shows the parts when the bottom flap is being gummed;

Figure 17 shows the cylinder in a position further advanced from that ofFigure 16 and in which the seal flap is being gummed. It also shows thebottom flap folding fingers partly operated. It also shows the presserbar which is soon to be operated to further complete the action of theturning fingers to fold the bottom fiap;

Figure 18 shows the position of the cylinder and the presser barimmediately after the presser bar has performed its function of pressingdown the bottom flap and that of stripping the envelope from the presserbar;

Figure 19 shows the next step in which the end of the envelope isseparated from the cylinder by means of fingers to be described;

Figure 20 shows the further step of compressing the bottom flap after ithas been folded;

Figure 21 shows a type of envelope in which the bottom flap is gummedand which is scoredbeyond the edges of the side flaps, the seal flapalso being gummed;

Figure 22 shows the same envelope with the bottom flap and the seal flapfolded;

Figure 23 shows an envelope which may be made on this machine in which.the bottom score line extends over the ends' of the side fiaps for thepurpose of making a leak-proof hold as seen in Figure 24;

Figure24 shows the envelope of Figure 23, with flaps folded;

Figure 25 shows the means employed for scoring the envelope shown inFigures 23 and 251;

Figure 26 shows an envelope scored to provide both ends with aleak-proof or safety seal;

Figure 27 showsthe same envelope with the 5 ends sealed;

Figure 28 shows the scoring of both flaps; and Figure 29 shows. anadjustable scoring element associated with the gum pad for the sealingflap.

When the blanks reach the mechanism herein shown in Figure 1-, the sideflaps have been folded and gummed, and in the case of the ordinaryenvelope the top and bottom flaps have been scored. Thus partiallyfolded and gummed, the blank is advanced bottom flap foremost and middleseamupward into the folding cylinder by means of the scorer I: andhaving scoring blades 2 and 3, whereupon the side fiaps arelongitudinally scored by scorer 4 after which the blanks'are conveyed byfrictional conveying rolls 5,5 etci through the customary side flapfolding and'gumming mechanism which may beof' known type-not .shown inFigure 2, after Which the partially folded blank is conveyed by furtherfriction rolls l I and 12 into the drum for the further gumming andfolding operations to be described. The first operation performed by thedrum is to grip the forward end of the. envelope by means of forwardgrippers A, Figure 3, after which trailing grippers B come into playfurther to secure the blank to the drum. Then the bottom flap is gummedby means of the gum applying device C following which the seal flap isgummed by means of another part of the same device, Figure 1. present toreceive the gum, the gumming devices are rendered inoperative by meansof feeler mechanism D. The next operation consists in folding the bottomflaps, which action is initiated by means of fingers E, as best seen inFigure 17, whereupon this folding is further accomplished by means of apresser bar F, Figure 1 and Figure 17, after which the blank leaves thedrum, being positively released therefrom by the action of an ejectorfinger G, Figure 17, the forward grippers in the meantime having beenreleased. The folded bottom flap is then further subjected to a rollingor ironing action at H, Figure 20, after which the advancing end of theenvelope is fed into the grip of grippers of the conveying chain I, thetrailing grippers having been in the meantime released.

My improved machine also is adapted to form the so-called safety foldenvelopes, illustrated in Figures 23 and 24, in which the fold includesa slight portion of the side flaps. To accomplish this, a score line isfirst made in the body of the envelope by means of the scorer J Figure25 which is only operated when this type of envelope is made.

Having described in general the operations which are to be gone throughwith, the various individual mechanisms involved will now be separatelydescribed.

Construction of rotary drum While the construction of various parts ofthe drum will be apparent from the description of the various mechanismsassociated with it, it is desiredat this time to point out the certaingeneral features of the drum by means of which great ease and latitudeof adjustment of 'the machine for different size envelopes may be had.Referring to'Figures 1 and 4," the drum is mounted upon a main shaft IS,the drum consisting of a middle'portion l6, constituting the drumproper, and side sections or brackets l1, l8 upon which grippingmechanisms A and B are mounted (as will be apparent from aconsideration, which follows, of these gripping mechanisms).

It will be apparent from Figure 4 that two sets of envelope handlingdevices are provided in the drum. To facilitate adjustment of thegripping mechanisms laterally of the drum, sections 17 and I8 areslidable on the shaft l5 by means of racks l9, l9 and pinions 2G, 20,respectively, and are held in any given position by means of set screws2|, 2!.

Forward grippers A It is desirable that the grippers A have a movementboth lateral of the drum and radial of it, the radial movement beingnecessary to grip the blank. The lateral movement is desirable inorder'that the grippers may clear the presser bars F. To accomplishthis, the grippers A are secured to shafts 35 each pivotally supportedin a bracket 25 secured to the brackets l1 and I8, Figures 1 and4. Toaccomplish the upward movement of the grippers is provided a bar 21engaging lugs 26 secured to the shafts 35, said bar 2'! being thuseffective to move the shafts 35 against the action of return springs35a. The bar 21 is attached to arms 28, 28, Figure 3, pivotedon a shaft29, Figures 3 and 4. Also attached to shaft 29 is a crank 30 terminatingin a follower 3!, Figure 3, which rides within In case no blank isa camgroove 3|a within the cam disc 32, such groove causing the upwardtilting of bar 21 and hence the grippers A through lugs 28. A cam disc33 is provided on the opposite side as will be referred to hereinafter.To move the grippers or fingers A laterally of the drum, such fingersare provided each with an inwardly extending portion 36 beyond thepivot, to which portion is attached a pin 31. These depending pins 31(see also Figure 4) are adapted to be contacted with a bar 38 havingarms 39 secured to shaft 89a to which is secured crank 48, terminatingin a cam follower 4| within the cam track 42 of the disc 33. It will benoted that when this follower moves in accordance with the cam track,the bar 38 will be tilted to move pins 3'! to move the grippers outwardagainst the action of springs 43.

Trailing grippers B These are shown best in Figures 3, 5, and 6 whichshow thegrippers B pivoted at 58 to an extension of the brackets l1, l8,Figure 5. The fingers B are each urged against the face of the drum bymeans of a spring I a acting on plunger 5|, Figure 6, the latter actingagainst pin 52 in the body of the gripper. These fingers are actuatedaway from the drum by means of a bar 53,

Figures 1, 3, 5, and 6, suitably journaled in the central portion I6 ofthe drum, such bar having arms 55 secured to a shaft 55a to which isconnected crank 55b provided with a follower 56 in a cam groove 51 inthe cam disc 32. In operation, the bar will be actuated (by the actionof the cam groove 51 on the follower 55) to move the bellcrank fingerelements B upwardly against spring 5|a by contacting with the ends 58 ofsaid elements.

Flap gumming devices 0 The gumming devices, seen best in Figures 1, '7,8, 9, 10, and a, consist of a seal flap gummer or stamping element 18and a bottom flap gummer or stamping element 'II which are mounted on acommon cylinder having an axial shaft 12, Figures 1 and 8. In thisconstruction one of the gummers, as for example the seal flap gummer I8,is fixed to the shaft I2 by means of collars I3, I4 in which it isloosely mounted so as to permit slight radial movement which is limitedby slots 14a, Figure 18, such collars being pinned to shaft 12 as shown.As shown, the stamping element I8 is confined within the slots by bars13a. and is urged outwardly by means of springs 75 which are in contactwith the shaft 12. Stamper element II, on the other hand, is mounted forangular adjustment relative to the shaft by means of collars IE and 11which are secured to the shaft I2 by means of set screws of which one,18, is seen in Figure 8. Stamper II is accordingly provided with a tiebar I8 which holds springs 88, corresponding to spring I5, away fromshaft '12. As in the case of the stamper I8, radial movement of thestamper "II is permitted within slots 88a of the collars I6, 11 as seenbest in Figure 10. It is desirable for each stamper to have a separatesource of gum for which are provided gum boxes 8|, 82, Figure 1, for thebottom and seal flap Stampers, respectively. Each gum box has a drivenfeed roller 83 and a driven applicator roller 84 which applies gum tothe stampers. In order that the stampers I8 and ":I may be gummed by theproper applicators and none other, it is necessary to withdraw a givenstamper when it passes the applicator serving the other stamper.

, To accomplish this, the ends of the stanipers are slotted at 85, as inFigure 10a (see also Figure 1) to accommodate the ends 81 of abifurcated rocking shaft 88 for stamper I8, and a similar shaft 88 forstamper II, such shafts being journaled in the respective collars (I3,14 and I6, 11) for the stampers as seen best in Figure 10. Rock shaft 88is further provided, opposite one of its ends 81 in contact with theslot in the stamping element, with a cam follower 98, rock shaft 89being similarly provided with a cam follower 9|. A stationary cam 92 isnow provided for the follower 9|, whereas a cam 93 is provided forfollower 98. Because of the location of these cams, as will be seen fromFigures 10 and 1, the stamper III will be retracted as it passes theapplicator 84 of the gummer 8| but will be in an extended position to begummed by the applicator 84 of the seal flap gummer 82, and the bottomflap gummer II will have a corresponding movement to enable it toreceive gum from the gummer 8| only.

It will therefore be seen that by continued rotation of the shaft I2 gumfrom different sources, namely, gum boxes 8|, 82, will be applied to thebottom and seal flaps, respectively.

Feeler mechanism D for rendering gummers ineflective when no blank ispassing through the machine This feeler mechanism comprises first areciprocating upper tamper I88, Figures 11 and 13, terminating in anapertured portion |8|, within which aperture is adapted to register areciprocating bottom tamper I 82. Tamper'l88 is moved up and down bymeans of a crank I83, Figure 1, terminating in a cam follower I84 whichis constrained to follow cam I85 by means of a spring I86. The lowertamper I82 is pivoted at I81 and is attached to a vertically extendingarm I88 which is spring pressed so as to throw the tamper I82 upwardwhen the arm I88 is released, such motion being limited by means of astop I89. However, movement of the arm I88 is influenced by a rock arm 8having a fork II8a receiving the pointed end of arm I88, arm 8 beingpivoted at I and reciprocated by means of crank II2, follower I 3, camtrack H4 and spring, not shown. Cam tracks I85 and I I4 are so arrangedthat the upper and lower tampers I88 and I82, respectively, will bebrought together at the same time, i. e., by the raising of the rock armH8 so as to permit the upward movement of the lower tamper I 82. When ablank is being fed through the machine the upward movement of tamper I82will be limited by the interposition of the blank as seen in Figures 12and 13. Consequently, the arm I88 will constantly be in a position tointercept the downward movement of the rock arm 8. When, however, ablank is no longer passing, the lower tamper I82 will be allowed to moveabove the plane of the blank into the aperture of the upper tamper I 88so that arm I88 will no longer arrest the downward movement of rock armH8, whereby a pair of arms 5 attached thereto (of which only one is seenin Figure 1) are brought upwardly so as to engage respectively the camfollowers 98 and SI of the gummer bars 18 and II, thereby preventingthem from coming into contact with and smearing gum upon the backing padI I6 upon which the blank would ordinarily be gummed.

It will be noted that because of the momentary contact of the upper andlower tampers I88 and I82, there is substantially no drag exerted on thefeed of the envelopes.

Bottom flap folding operations, elements E to H The gum having beenapplied to both the end flaps of the envelope, the next operation is tofold the freshly gummed bottom flap. The first fold is initiated bymeans of fingers E, Figure 17 (and Figure 3) which are adjustablyattached to arms I20 secured to a shaft I2I supported on the drumsection I6. Secured to the shaft I2! is an arm I2Ia having a camfollower I22, the latter operating in a cam groove I23, Figure 3.Fingers E are movable through slots (not shown) in the drum, additionalslots being provided to accommodate additional fingers (not shown) ifrequired. When the position shown in Figure 17 is reached, the camfollower I22 is forced inwardly to move the fingers E outwardly andthereby initiate the folding of the bottom flap (designated I24, Figure17) aided by-the action of grippers A which hold the blank a shortdistance (say Within A" thereof depending upon the nature of the paperand the size of the blank) behind the score line. Continued rotation ofthe drum brings the bottom flap in position to be further folded bymeans of a presser bar F, as best seen in Figures 17 and 18. Thispresser bar is urged outwardly by means of springs I3I. However, beforethe presser F is brought into operation, the leading grippers A arereleased and retracted to the position shown in Figure 18. (In someinstances, however, it may be desirable to arrange the presser sothat itWill contact with the fold, but not the' gripper just before thegrippers A are released.) In order, however, to provide against theblank following the presser F, a releasing finger I32 is provided. Thisfinger' further, after the presser bar F leaves the drum,

' permit a variation in the position of the score to strip the blankfrom-the presserbar as in Figurelil,

Tornake sure that the leading end of the blank does not adhere to the.-surface of the drum, I also provide ejector fingers,G,iFigure 17, whichare also attached'to the arms I20. By'means of the cam track I23 thearms I20 carrying both fingers E and ejector G are further moved outwardso as to bringthe ejectors G in the oper ative position of Figure 19.

The end of the blank now having been released from the drum passesbetween the ironing elements H, Figure 20, comprising a cylindricalelement I40 and the sector I4 I'rotatable by shaft I42. These ironingelements further complete the folding action and insure a thoroughcontact of the surfaces to be gummed together. The feed of the blank isfurther facilitated by means of a feed sector I43 cooperating with aportion, not shown, of the cylindrical element I40, sector I43 reachingshort of the gummed surface of the sealing flap. 1

It will be seen from' the foregoing that flap turning means have beenprovided which do not depend for their operation upon exact registry ofthe score line of the flap to be folded with the folding mechanism.Thus, in practice I have found that normal operation of the machine willline of a sixteenth of an inch in either direction, such atoleranceabsorbing any error resulting from the normal high speedoperation of the friction feeding devices shown in Figure 20.

Blank removal conveyor I The folding operations so far as the drummechanisms are concerned having been completed, it is necessary now toremove the envelopes from the drum (without smearing the gummed sealingflap) and dry the gum on the sealing flap. The feed section I43 aided byguides I64, Figure 1, operates to present the blank to the gripper I53of the chain I, such gripper being spring pressed against the chain by aspring, not shown, except when the gripper is released from the chain bycontact of the cam surface II against the cam I 52, such contactoccurring at the moment when the envelope is presented to the chainconveyor, after which the grippers snap shut and the blank is conveyedthrough a drier, not shown. Shortly prior tothe presentation of theblank to the conveyor the trailing grippers B have been released asshown in Figure 20. A feature of the chain I is that the speed thereofis slowed up at the time the envelope is presented to the grippers, thisbeing accomplished by means of the elliptical gear set I53, IE4 (orequivalent device), Figure 1a. This feature is described at length, andis made the subject of claims in a co-pending application, Serial No.58,335.

In'Figure lo I have shown diagrammatically the driving connections forthe machine consisting of main drive shaft I63 and gears Ififla, I381),ISI, I82, I63, I64, I65, I66, I61, I68. Gear I62 driven by gear IiiI ismounted on the shaft of sector I43, gear I83 on the shaft of the presserelement F, gear I64 on the shaft I5 of the drum, gear I65 on theoptional scoring elements J or J, gear 55 on the shaft I2 of thegummers, gear IS! on the shaft of the gum applicator 84 of gum box BI,and gear IE3 on the shaft 84 of the gum box 82.

These gears are adjustable angularly of their respective shafts as seenfor example in Figure 8 at ISM.

Optional scoring devices J and J As heretofore stated, it may be desiredto scoreeither end of the partially completed envelope as indicated inFigures 23, 24, 26 and 27. When one end of the envelope is to be scored,as for example the bottom flap end, as seen in Figure 23, the mechanismof Figure 25 is provided consisting of a blade I75 secured in a collarI16 which is mounted on a shaft I'II', driven in timed relation with thedrum on which the envelope blank is contained. Behind the envelope is asuitable backing plate I18. Shaft I T5 is mounted in a bracket I79capable of angular movement on shaft I83 and limited in such movement bymeans of a spring I8I in conjunction with astop I82 and a set screw I33.

When both ends of the envelope are to be scored as shown in Figures 26and 27, the mechanism J, Figure 28, is provided which is similar tomechanism J except that two collars containing two score blades areprovided, one of which is angularly adjustable on the shaft IT! by meansof a set screw I84, and by means of this adjustment, the space betweenthe score lines may be adjusted for different sizes of envelopes. In theuse of the scorer J, it is desirable to provide an adjustable backingpad as shown in Figures 28 and 29 in which a portion I85 constituting abacking for the sealing fiap (receiving the force of the sealing flapgummer I3) is made adjustable in respect of a portion I86 having agroove I81 which comes opposite the scorer for this portion of theenvelope.

I have described what I believe to be the best embodiments of myinvention. I do not wish, however, to be confined to the embodimentsshown, but what I desire to cover by Letters Patent is set forth in theappended claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine for making envelopes, said machine being of the typecharacterized by means for scoring the blank longitudinally andtransversely, and by means for folding the side flaps of the blank; thecombination of a rotatable member; a flap-folding means revoluble bodilytherewith in an arcuate path conforming in part with the path of travelof the blank, said lastnamed flap-folding means being swingable in anarcuate path intersecting said first-named arcuate path, for folding anend-flap of the blank; and frictional conveying means for transportingsaid blank, after it has been acted on by said side flap folding means,to its arcuate path of travel to be acted on by said end-flap foldingmeans, the latter being adapted to accomplish the end flap foldirrespective of the normal error in registry imparted by the frictionalfeeding means.

2. A machine having the features claimed in claim 1, and 'in which saidrotatable member is constituted by a rotary drum, and is provided withmeans for securing the blank thereto.

3. In a machine for making envelopes, a rotary drum, means for feedingthereto bottom flap foremost an envelope blank having the side flapsalready folded and bottom flap previously scored, and means for foldingthe forward flap including forward gripping elements pressing theenvelope to the drum behind the score line of the bottom flap, a foldingfinger operative to initiate the folding of the blank while held by thesaid forward grippers, and means for completing the folding of thebottom flap.

4. The machine according to the preceding claim in which the means lastmentioned includes a presser element bringing the flap against the bodyof the envelope and means for retracting the gripper elements frombeneath the bottom flap being folded.

5. In an envelope making machine, a rotary drum, means for feedingblanks with side flaps folded to the drum in a direction parallel to theside flaps, means for securing the blanks to the drum, means for gummingthe end flaps of the blank, means for initiating the folding of thebottom flap which has been previously scored, means for completing thefolding of said flap in the form of a presser element, and means forretracting the forward gripping means which has aided in the initialfolding movement, upon the operation of the presser element.

6. The machine according to the preceding claim including means forstripping the folded and of the blank from the drum.

7. The machine according to claim 3, including means for feeding theblank having the bottom flap folded by a feeding sector which does notextend to the freshly gummed surface of the sealing flap.

8. The machine according to claim 3, including a presser element forbringing the gummed surface of the bottom flap against the body of theenvelope, together with means preventing the envelope from following thepresser.

9. The machine according to claim 3, including elements between whichthe folded bottom flap is squeezed or ironed without squeezing the restof the envelope.

10. In a machine for making envelopes of the so-called safety fold type,including a drum upon which the blanks with the side flaps folded arefed bottom flap foremost, means for securing the blank to the drum,means for gumming an end flap, and scoring means so disposed withrelation to the drum as to serve for scoring an end flap of theenvelope, including a portion of the side flaps, said scoring meanscomprising a rotary scorer driven in timed relation with the drum, andmeans, co-ordinated with said drum and scoring means, for folding thebottom flap.

11. In a machine of the rotary type for gumming and folding an end flapof an envelope, a rotary drum comprising three parallel sections, eachmounted on a common shaft, blank gripping elements carried by the outersections,

means for adjusting the outer sections along the shaft to accommodatedifferent sizes of envelope blanks, and a common actuating membercarried by the central section, for the grippers carried by the outersections, and arranged to maintain cooperative relation with themregardless of adjustment.

ABRAHAM NOVICK.

